Keto Diet Problems You Need to Know

Keto Diet Problems

The hype over the ketogenic diet doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. More and more people are coming out to prove that this low-carb, high-fat diet is the real thing. But despite the favorable reviews and positive perception towards the keto diet, there are still those who are not convinced that it is the safest and healthiest way to slim down. And even more surprisingly, some of them are dieticians and nutritionists. They say that there are keto diet problems that everyone should know about.

The ketogenic diet was formulated several decades ago to treat children with seizures. Now, it is a weight loss diet. It works by depriving oneself of carbohydrates so that the body will use body fats to create fuel. The body will enter a state of ketosis, where the liver produces ketones from fats to produce energy. Eating minimal amounts of carbohydrates with more fats will maintain the ketosis metabolism.

You can lose weight with keto diet because of the low carb intake, so there will also be less consumption of calories. The fat that you eat will help your satiety, which will also keep you from eating more food since you no longer feel hungry. The consumption of more fats will not affect your weight since ketosis’ focus is burning fats. Ketosis converts those fats into more energy.

Possible Keto Problems

However, some experts still think that keto diet is not the healthiest way to reduce weight, regardless of its effectiveness. Nutritionists are bothered by the diet’s extreme method, which they claim may not be good for the body in the long run. There are actually some keto diet problems that can hinder its sustainability. First, the lack of carbohydrates will cause the kidney to release all the water reserve in the body. The water will not be alone though, it goes out with some important nutrients that you need. You will be dehydrated and deficient in certain minerals, especially in magnesium.

You may also feel some side effects due to the low-carb diet. Flu, leg cramps, constipation, and heart palpitations are just some of them. To help lessen these effects, you need to drink lots of water, take in more salt and fiber. Take supplements to replenish all that are lacking in your system.

Another keto diet problem that concerns some nutritionists is the strain that the liver will get over time. It is essential in the keto diet for the liver to produce more ketones than it normally does. Sustaining this production means adding more stress to the organ, which is very unhealthy. There are supplements on the market that promise to strengthen the liver, but they don’t guarantee positive effects. Plus, you will add another maintenance supplement on top of the things that you need to do to keep this diet. At some point, you may feel tired of all these things, and that leads to another one of the keto diet problems.

Sustainability

It will be very hard to get back to a normal diet when the time comes that you don’t feel like doing the keto diet anymore. Once you are in ketosis, your body will rely mostly on fats. A sudden change in carbohydrates intake may result in serious weight gain. So before you decide on going keto, make sure that you have the dedication and motivation to sustain this type of low-carb diet.

With all these keto diet problems, not all people may find the motivation to stick to the diet plan. Motivation and persistence are necessary to be successful in the keto diet. Once you have dedicated yourself, your keto diet will be more sustainable, more achievable, and you will surely enjoy your diet.